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compulsory purchase

British

noun

purchase of a house or other property by a local authority or government department for public use or to make way for development, regardless of whether or not the owner wishes to sell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The taskforce has recommended new towns are delivered by development corporations, which could have special planning powers to compulsory purchase land, invest in local services, and grant planning permission.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025

They were served with a compulsory purchase order and bailiffs were brought in.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2023

Comprised of farmers, landowners and others with an interest in the County Tyrone area, the group was launched in 2009 to oppose the compulsory purchase of land to construct the road.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2023

They said they were subject to compulsory purchase orders but had not yet received any money.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2023

These include the compulsory purchase of tickets in what is called the "Explaining Section," a block of seats set aside by the management for the purpose.

From Love Conquers All by Williams, Gluyas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023